Rusty’s Garage reaches fifty episodes

Greg Rust’s podcast for rev-heads brings up a half-century, and guest No.50 is a motorcyclist who has starred in a movie or two...

When our mate Greg Rust ventured into the gigantic pool of podcasts two and a half years ago we knew he’d started something special.

Now the Rusty’s Garage odometer has clicked over 3 million downloads and he’s parked 50 in the collection. So which one’s are the favs?

Congrats on the milestone. Who is guest number 50?

It’s Eric Bana. I’ve interviewed him a couple of times for TV but they were just short live chats at the GP. I spent over an hour talking to him for the podcast and for me he ticks all the boxes, car lover, motorbike rider and a racer….a proper enthusiast and a ripper bloke.

Eric Bana says The Castle wasn't that far from reality

Any surprises in there?

Not many people realize that he’s working on a screenplay on the life of bike racing/TT legend Mike Hailwood. He’ll star in in too and co-direct it. I greatly admire people who find ways to blend passion with occupation.

And he also told me he thought the script for the classic Aussie movie ‘The Castle’ was a bit of a piss-take when he first read it. There seemed to be way too many similarities with life growing up in the Bana household. Moving the Camira to get the Torana out to get to the Commodore was a thing for them too.

Rusty now has 50 podcast episodes under his belt

Has the COVID-19 period changed the way you record the podcast?

I’ve still been able to do a few of them face-to-face which is my preference. I just find that you can react to body language and the direction of the conversation a little more.

I enjoy doing them at racetracks and in garages especially. I actually sat in a 650 horsepower Nissan Micra (don’t ask) for the chat with Paul Radisich. Very few have been recorded in a studio.

The ‘Rona’ has actually been a great learning experience. We’ve been able to get to people in lockdown or overseas by recording remotely and we’ve done it without compromising the audio experience.

So which episodes are in your top five?

Ahh, that’s so hard! I’m proud of all of them, particularly the rapport with the guests. You immediately think of the big stars that have come on, like Mick Doohan for example, but it’s the good storytellers that stand out for me and the tales you unearth in the conversation. The five I’ve picked are in no particular order:

Mark Larkham – We literally took a few beers, sat on a log in the bush and chatted. I was crying with laughter and it really resonated with our audience!

Neil Crompton – He’s now one of our most downloaded. Basically it was a couple of mates having a convo about MX, cars and racing. There’s already more stories I want to ask him.

Shane Jacobson – I knew it would be good when he turned up in his “noisy HQ” ute. He’s hilarious and a real passionate devotee. He told me about a movie he was working on and how the producers hit the roof when he rode his motorbike to set!

Casey Stoner is one of Rusty's favorite guests

Casey Stoner – He rarely does this sort of thing and opened up on a battle with chronic fatigue none of us knew about. The reaction and support from his fans from all round the world was tremendous.

Steve Parrish – the former GP rider, truck racing champion and great mate of Barry Sheene recounts some of the most entertaining yarns I’ve ever heard. How he survived I’ll never know.

Special mention to BTCC legend John Cleland who even got dressed up in old Brad Jones Racing team kit for the chat.

Rusty still has plenty more in store for the podcast

What’s in store for the next 50?

I’ve always maintained it’s an automotive podcast. It has a racer skew at times (because I love it) but I want to tackle a couple of issue-based interviews too, if they’re up for it. For example, what really happened with Ant West, and the rise/fall of Anthony Gobert. Before we hit the ton I’d love to add these ones to the library as well as:

Daryl Beattie – He underrates his bike Grand Prix successes. He’s promised to do the podcast….when he’s 70! I’ll wait. He’s that good!

Russell Ingall – the Bathurst winner and Supercars Champion is one of the most requested along with Jim Richards. Both are good bike riders too – Jimmy especially.

Martin Brundle – He loves a good two-wheel road trip. The modern day voice of F1 has driven some amazing cars from all sorts of eras too and his descriptions are captivating.

Check out Rusty's Garage HERE.